Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Volleyball is around the corner

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- UofL Volleyball ready to go...

( Cardinal Couple staff columnist Jenny O'Bryan files this report on Cardinal Volleyball.) 

Louisville Women’s Volleyball is a few short weeks away from the start of the season.  What can fans expect from the team this year?  Well, first let's look at where the team left off.

Louisville is coming off of an outright win of the Big East title.  They went 13-1 in conference games last year and 24-9 on the season.   The VolleyCards were knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the second round last season but continued a 13 year streak of post season play, which is the 10^th longest active streak in the NCAA. 

Lola Arslanbekova was named Big East Player of the Year and a healthy Gwen Rucker spent this summer competing for an A2 USA National Red Team (I am not exactly sure what this means, but representing Louisville on a USA National Team has to be a prestigious honor). 

Coach Anne Kordes, with a year in the Big East under her belt, leads the team in her 2^nd year as head coach of the Cards.   Coach Kordes adds to her staff for the upcoming season with the addition of Lee Maes (most recently a head coach at Virginia) as an assistant and Melissa Starck-Bean who returns to Louisville as an assistant as well.  Coach Starck-Bean was an assistant under former Coach Leonid Yelin from 2005-2009.

Coach Kordes welcomes her first recruiting class in 2012 which is ranked 30^th in the country.  Louisville native Katie George (setter) who played at local powerhouse Assumption High School and who was also Kentucky Miss Volleyball 2011, Gatorade Player of the Year and National Volleyball Player of the year by PrepVoleyball.com headlines the class.   George is joined by Davionna Holmes (middle blocker) out of Illinois, Janelle Jenkins (middle blocker) out of Texas, Jaden McBride (defensive specialist) out of Missouri, Allie Miller (defensive specialist) out of Indiana and Haley Pouliezos (libero) out of Missouri.   I look forward to getting to know and see the talents of these young women on the court.   

The Cards return a wealth of talent and experience in 9 upperclassmen (4 seniors and 5 juniors).  Courtney Robinson is listed as a freshman as well though not a part of the 2012 recruiting class. 

Last season the VolleyCards played 6 games in The YUM! Center, and that increases to 15 games this season.  According to twitter feeds from the team, a record number of tickets have already been sold. 

Cardinal fans...I think we can look forward to an outstanding season of volleyball.  With a core group of experienced members and an excellent recruiting class the VolleyCards are poised to dominate in the Big East again, and head deeper into the tourney. 

Get ready to witness some spikes, kills, digs, pancakes, blocks, passes and sets (to name a few) as the VolleyCards are set to serve us up a great season.  It all starts in just 16 days.  Get your tickets now!  

Two-a-days began today for the VolleyCards. Practice makes perfect. 

Here are some Volleyball promotions being offered by the University of Louisville this season. Click the link below.

Volleyball Promotional Calender
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